Madfriars.com in Fort Wayne

John Conniff

07/31/2005

The fireworks at the Fort Wayne Memorial Stadium were scheduled to start after the game, unfortunately for the Wizards the Peoria Chiefs began a little early using Fabian Jimenez as a match in defeating the Wizards 12-2 before a Saturday
night crowd of 6,034.

In the first inning, Fabian Jimenez threw 12 pitches for strikes, the success was offset by the Chiefs returning most of them.

Jimenez gave up two hits and two runs in the first on a triple by left fielder Bo Flowers to right center. In the fourth inning the Peoria Chiefs sent nine to the plate led by a deep double to left field by catcher Oscar Bernard driving in two runs. The Chiefs continued the attack by adding on two additional runs for a total of five hits. In the next inning Peoria chased Jimenez from the game after he walked the first two batters and allowed a single by Bernard.

Unfortunately Chris Steinborn was unable to stem the bleeding after coming in for Jimenez, allowing consecutive hits by Aaron Smith and Drew Larsen, before getting a double play and an inning ending strikeout.

The Chiefs added another run in the seventh and Oscar Bernard topped of his day with a two run home run in the top of the ninth. Bernard finished the night going three for five, with a double, home run and four RBIs.

Fort Wayne was able to avoid being shut out with a minor rally in the ninth inning when shortstop Matt Bush's bases loaded sacrifice fly scored the first run, and second baseman Sean Kazmar drove in the other Wizard's run of the night. Chris Kolkhorst ended Wizards misery by grounding into his second double play of the night.

Madfriars.com columnist Matt Thayer and Mike Baxter each had two hits for the Wizards, with Baxter hitting the ball hard each time at the plate for the

Wizard's only extra base hit of the evening.

Jimenez, 18, is still regarded as one of the Padres better long term pitching prospects, but has yet to demonstrate his promise in the Midwest League. After a promising start, he has been consistently hammered culminating in an ERA of 6.58 ERA and has an inverse base-on-balls to strike out ratio of 42-28.

Jimenez is the only pitcher on the Wizards to have walked more batters than he has struck out.

"He is having trouble repeating his delivery," said Wizard's manager Randy Ready after the game. "At this level you have to be able to locate and command your fastball and that hasn't happened for Fabian. If you can't do that then your secondary pitches are not going to be effective."
Matt Bush, although making several fine plays in the field, which included turning three double plays, still ended up committing his 34th error in 86 games.

After demonstrating superior range and good hands, Bush misplayed the easiest of his four double play opportunities said Wizard's manager Randy Ready after the game.

When speaking with Wizard's personnel who have seen him throughout the year, they claimed that play was typical of the errors that Bush has been assessed all year, but still believe he is among the best defensive players they have ever seen in the Midwest League. Its just the ordinary ones that give him trouble.

Tomorrow the Wizards take on the Chiefs, with Chicago Cub pitcher Kerry Wood scheduled to make a rehab appearance.